Taylor’s “James Dean Daydream”: Dissecting “Style” Lyrics Meaning

Style (both Taylor’s Version and original) is one of the catchiest and most iconic songs from 1989. It’s theorized to be about Harry Styles, given the title and the timing of his romance with Taylor.

But the subject of the song isn’t important; the message is. It revolves around a chaotic romance, but there’s something electric between the two main characters that keep them coming back to one another.

What does this tell us about Taylor’s mindset at the time, and what it made her believe about love?

Here’s my complete English teacher analysis of Taylor’s Style lyrics meaning, line by line. Let’s see what we can glean from this iconic track 3.

Style (Taylor’s Version)

Title: Style (Taylor’s Version)
Written by: Taylor Swift, Ali Payami, Shellback, Max Martin
Track: 3, 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
Pen: Glitter Gel pen, possibly combined with fountain.
Lyrics from Genius

Style Narrative Synopsis

Setting: Driving (metaphorically and physically)
Characters: Narrator (Taylor), Subject (“he,” love interest)
Mood: Ominous but loving the chaos.
Conflict: They’re not good for each other.
Inciting Incident: He pops back into her life after an absence
Quest: “take me home,” despite the unhealthiness of this dynamic.
Symbols & Metaphors: midnight, “no headlights,” “long drive,” “paraside” “style,” James Dean, “crashing down”
Theme: Chaotic love and attraction
Imagery: “burnin’ flames or paradise,” “James Dean daydream look in your eye,” “red lip classic,” “long hair, slicked back white t-shirt,” “tight little skirt”, “wild eyes on the road.”
Lesson: If the destination fails, was it worth the trip?

What is Style About?

Style lyrics describe a whirlwind romance between two mismatched characters who are physically attracted to each other, but will end up ruining their relationship over and over again.

Taylor uses the central metaphor of their breakups and makeups as fashion never going “out of style.” Every trend comes back around, as their love and passion keeps making comebacks, too.

Who is Style About?

Style is theorized to be about Harry Styles, but not only because of the title.

The lyrics describe Harry’s looks fairly precisely, with his “James Dean daydream” look, his “long hair, slicked back”, and more.

Taylor dated Harry pre-1989 era, so it likely was inspired by him, but Taylor has never confirmed this.

Style Lyrics Meaning: Line by Line

Exploration of imagery and metaphor in Taylor Swift's song 'Style,' presented on a sky background. Metaphors and other literary devices are annotated in red pen. Credit is given to 'Taylor Swift, "Style" (Taylor's Version)' with the 'Swiftly Sung Stories' series mentioned.
The first verse and pre-chorus read: "Midnight

You come and pick me up, no headlights

Long drive

Could end in burnin' flames or paradise

Fade into view, oh

It's been a while since I have even heard from you

(Heard from you)

[Pre-Chorus]

I should just tell you to leave 'cause I

Know exactly where it leads, but I

Watch us go 'round and 'round each time"

Verse one sets the scene: it’s midnight. This time is significant in the Taylorverse, and usually symbolizes a time of deep contemplation about what she wants in love and life.

In this instance, however, it’s more of a midnight booty call.

“You come and pick me up, no headlights” makes it feel like this is secret; as if she lives in her parent’s house and is sneaking out.

“Long drive” is symbolic of the path they are treading together. This road trip “could end in burning flames or paradise,” which means it will either be fantastic – they’ll stay together happily – or crash and burn.

“Fade into view” means something slowly coming into focus. In this case, it’s him, as “it’s been a while since I have even heard from you.” He’s been MIA for a while, and he slowly comes back into her field of vision: back into her life.

“I should just tell you to leave, ‘cause I know exactly where it leads,” she reflects. Does he only contact her for late night booty calls? Is their relationship going nowhere?

She doesn’t ask him to leave, though. “I watch us go round and round each time,” she says, as if this pattern has repeated itself before: he disappears and pops back up whenever he feels like it.

But “I watch us” also feels like Taylor is seeing it from a distance or watching from above, outside her body. This possibly reflects her brain vs. her heart. One half knows what’s best, but the other doesn’t interject. It only watches from afar as the cycle repeats itself.

What else goes round and round? Fashion trends.

Chorus: “You Got that James Dean Daydream Look in Your Eye”

Exploration of imagery and metaphor in Taylor Swift's song 'Style,' presented on a sky background. Metaphors and other literary devices are annotated in red pen. Credit is given to 'Taylor Swift, "Style" (Taylor's Version)' with the 'Swiftly Sung Stories' series mentioned.
The chorus reads: "You got that James Dean daydream look in your eye

And I got that red lip classic thing that you like

And when we go crashin' down, we come back every time

'Cause we nеver go out of style, we nеver go out of style

You got that long hair, slicked back, white T-shirt

And I got that good girl faith and a tight little skirt

And when we go crashin' down, we come back every time

'Cause we never go out of style, we never go out of style"

Why does she keep going back for more? Because he’s “got that James Dean daydream look in your eye.” She compares his gaze to film icon James Dean, one of the most notoriously handsome stars ever.

“And I got that red lip classic thing that you like” paints herself as a sort of old-Hollywood starlet, which matches his aesthetic. They make quite a handsome pair.

“And when we go crashin’ down, we come back every time” could mean that they break up and come back to each other, the breakup being the “crash”. Alternatively, “crashing down” could mean they hop into bed together.

And why? Because they “never go out of style.” Either their attraction or their compatibility never fades, never goes “out of style.”

“You got that long hair, slicked back, white t-shirt” evokes a similar 50s/60’s movie star vibe for him, while she has “that good girl faith and a tight little skirt.”

What’s “good girl faith”? It could reference her past as a country artist, where she included a lot more religious tones in her songs. Or it could refer to the “sin” of temptation ; she’s a good, moral girl, and that’s hot for him.

Verse 2: “He Can’t Keep His Wild Eyes on the Road”

Exploration of imagery and metaphor in Taylor Swift's song 'Style,' presented on a sky background. Metaphors and other literary devices are annotated in red pen. Credit is given to 'Taylor Swift, "Style" (Taylor's Version)' with the 'Swiftly Sung Stories' series mentioned.
The second verse reads: "So it goes

He can't keep his wild eyes on the road, mm

Takes me home

Lights are off, he's taking off his coat, oh, yeah

I say, "I heard, oh

That you've been out and about with some other girl"

Some other girl

[Pre-Chorus]

He says, "What you heard is true, but I

Can't stop thinkin' 'bout you," and I

I said, "I've been there too a few times""

“So it goes” will become a future song on Reputation that actually has a lot of similar messages as Style. They could be sister songs.

The phrase “so it goes” stems from the legendary novel Slaughterhouse Five, where it’s used as a sigh of resignation. Things will always be this way, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Using “so it goes” as an introduction to the second verse, she’s emphasizing that this is a pattern they repeat. She’s not particularly interested in breaking the established rules of the game they’re playing.

“He can’t keep his wild eyes on the road” could allude to a little car tryst, or it could mean he can’t keep his metaphoric eyes on her. His eye wanders (he cheats).

“Takes me home, lights are off, he’s taking off his coat” is the most blatantly sexual lyric Taylor has yet written (at the time of the original 1989 release). It’s getting steamy, even though there’s no actual sex described.

She confronts him about some rumors she heard, that he’s “been out and about with some other girl.”

He admits to it, but then soothes the sting with “but I can’t stop thinkin’ ‘bout you.” That’s no real consolation, but she admits, “I’ve been there too a few times.”

She’s been seeing other people too, or she’s been in similar situations in the past.

This situation doesn’t really resolve itself, but if you had a “James Dean daydream” in front of your eyes, would you really care if he’s also seeing other people?

She doesn’t seem to mind. They continue with..whatever they’re doing at her house.

🩵🩵 Can you pass the 1989 TV Lyrics Quiz? 🩵🩵

Bridge & Final Chorus: “We Never Go Out of Style”

Exploration of imagery and metaphor in Taylor Swift's song 'Style,' presented on a sky background. Metaphors and other literary devices are annotated in red pen. Credit is given to 'Taylor Swift, "Style" (Taylor's Version)' with the 'Swiftly Sung Stories' series mentioned.
The bridge and final chorus read: "Take me home (Ah)

Just take me home (Ah)

Yeah, just take me home (Ah)

Woah, woah, oh (Out of style)
Oh, 'cause you got that James Dean daydream look in your eye

And I got that red lip classic thing that you like

And when we go crashin' down (And when we go), we come back every time

'Cause we never go out of style, we never go out of style"

The bridge is a bit suggestive as to what happens next. “Take me home” could mean to physically take her home, but he already did that in the last verse.

So what is “take me home”? I think it’s either to take her “all the way” or “finish” in bed, or to take her home and keep her forever.

The final chorus repeats, ending with “we never go out of style.” Whenever they find their way back to each other, it’s magic, and they can both forget about all the other people coming in and out of their romantic lives.

Sure, there are hurt feelings here and there, but neither of them are particularly serious about one another. When they do meet up (even for a midnight booty call), it’s pretty spectacular.

Overall, this is a hot, catchy song that shows where Taylor is at this moment in time: young, in lust, and having the time of her life.

Style Song Meaning: Final Thoughts

Style is a masterpiece of metaphor, and reflects the cyclical nature of their relationship as fashion trends coming back around again.

In the round and round, we actually feel what it’s like to be in this relationship: the highest highs and lowest lows, with lots of waiting in between.

This track is a good example of where her songwriting is headed in 1989 and beyond: packed with metaphors and deeper meanings, gorgeous imagery, and doomed – and secretive – romance.

More Songs From 1989 (Taylor’s Version)

🩵🩵 Can you pass the 1989 TV Lyrics Quiz? 🩵🩵

1989 Prologues: Original vs. Taylor’s Version